Mexico Vows to Stop Expansion of Civilian 'Self-Defense' Groups Agence France-Presse
go to original November 22, 2013

A masked and armed resident - member of the new community police group - stands guard in Aquila, Michoacan, Mexico (AFP)

Mexican authorities warned Thursday that they would not allow vigilante “self-defense” groups to take over more towns in a western state where civilians are arming themselves to combat drug gangs.

Vigilantes are now providing security in six Michoacan state towns after self-defense forces seized the municipality of Tancitaro last weekend following clashes that left three people dead.

Self-defense leaders say they next plan to take over another town, Los Reyes, with about 40,000 residents, as part of their drive to chase the Knights Templar drug cartel out of the region.

But Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam insisted that the self-defense groups “will not spread. I assure you.”

“The Mexican state will guarantee this,” he told reporters in Mexico City.

Read the rest at The Raw Story

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